If it is connecting your Phone to Laptop, then, try the following:
Goto Dash, and Type Disks and open it.
If you can see your Phone Connected to it, then, select it, goto options and Mount it.
Edit :
If The Laptop detects it, then only you can connect with it.

The easiest way to copy files is to use the icon that looks like a file cabinet:
in the left upper corner of your screen. That is very similar to the Windows File Manage your already know.
cp is very similar the the Windows copy command so choose whichever you're comfortable with.